Daily Tanach Wednesday 25th Nissan Sefer Melachim 2 Chapter 22 Part 2: A hidden scroll is found with a frightening message

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer
  1. A hidden scroll is found with a frightening message:
  • A hidden Torah scroll is found: Chilkiyah the high priest informed Shafan the scribe that he had found a Torah scroll buried in the temple [having been buried there by the priests in the times of Achaz, as the priests were afraid that Achaz would burn it as he had already burnt a different Torah scroll[1]]. [Some say that this was the Torah scroll that was positioned next to the Aron, which was written by Moshe.[2]] Chilkiyah gave the scroll to Shafan, and he read it.
  • The scroll is read before the king, and he is stricken with fright: Shafan the scribe came to the king and told him that the monies of the treasury of the temple were turned into silver coins and given over to the managers for them to use to renovate the temple. Shafan then also informed the king that Chilkiyah the priest had given him a Torah scroll and Shafan read the Torah scroll before the king. When the king heard the words of the Torah scroll, he tore his garments [as the scroll was found to be open to the area in which Scripture states that the king and his nation will be exiled[3]].
  • The Kings instructs his high priest and scribes to pray on their behalf before G-d: The king instructed Chilkiyah the priest, and Achikam the son of Shafan, and Achbor the son of Michayah, and Shafan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, to go inquire and pray in front of G-d on his behalf and on behalf of all of the Jewish people and on behalf of the people of Yehuda, as the words that were read from the Torah scroll show that G-d’s wrath is very great being that we did not follow his instructions in His Torah.

[1] Rashi 22:8

[2] Metzudos Dovid 22:8

[3] Radak 22:11; Rashi 22:13

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